Social Security Board workers want a raise

Antonio Gonzalez

But while the S.S.B. employees feel as if their rights to a raise have been ignored, viewers may be wondering how much of an increase the employees are asking for?  And was Monday’s sickout considered a success? Gonzalez gave us the figures.

Antonio Gonzalez

“We have about a hundred and eighty members approximately and we understand that there was a maybe sixty-five, seventy percent of those figures. Yesterday’s actions is a strong message to the board of directors and the management of Social Security Board and if they continue in this same trend we will have more actions like that in the future in addition to the official notice to the minister. So it depends on how management treads its ground.  We haven’t seen the results as yet. The second stage that we have done today, to send the twenty-one days notice to the minister, that will compound the issue, compound our actions and we must see some results in the near future, the very near future too.”

Marion Ali

“Are we talking about five percent, ten percent salary increase?  What kind of benefits or perks are we talking about?”

Antonio Gonzalez

“We are talking about maybe vacation grants. A slight increase, maybe a three or four percent increase.”

Marion Ali

“Can we share a ballpark figure where that is right now, in terms of giving us a general idea?”

Antonio Gonzalez

“We haven’t reached at that stage as yet. They are enjoying vacation grant right now, but we haven’t reached that stage to discuss and negotiate our proposals and their counter-proposals—we haven’t reached that stage. But when it comes to salary increase, we have what you call proposal that have set forth for negotiation purpose. Example; you give a proposal for ten percent to salary increase; you don’t expect to get ten percent. You will negotiate that with the other party and you might reach a four, five. I don’t think you wah reach wah reach a six seven or eight. So it is in that vicinity that we’re looking forward to some kind of accommodation.”

Marion Ali

“But you assure the public it is not an unreasonable request that the staff is asking?”

Antonio Gonzalez

“To tell you the truth, you know, everybody knows, workers knows, everything gone up: the cost of living, butane gas, gasoline, oil, education, health situation, doctor situation, and school fees. All these things have erupted and skyrocketed and we are trying to get a balance with the very high cost of living and the take home pay with our members. That’s what we are trying to do. When we talk about management of the funds, yes let us look at the management of the funds, but let’s take into consideration not only our members’ position but also management’s position—about their big fat salaries and things like that.  Our members are not against any improvements for contributors or pensioners. We are not against that. In fact I am a pensioner and if I get some improvements in my pension well ok. But what we are saying is this; you have your work to do with the contributors and pensioners, well let us do it. We have wah negotiations to see how best we could reach a settlement on these proposals let us do it.”

News Five will follow closely the progress of the standoff between the S.S.B. and its employees over the coming days.